Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Jimmy Patronis

The Florida Chamber of Commerce intends to push the Florida Legislature this year and candidates next year to focus on tort reform to ease Florida’s increasing reputation as a place where litigation is a high cost of doing business.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday announced Scott Fennell as Deputy Chief Financial Officer over operations. Fennell will oversee the state’s accounting and auditing responsibilities, as well as the Department of Financial Services‘ $299 million-dollar budget, according to a press release.

Ritch Workman is headed back to Tallahassee. The former state representative, a Melbourne Republican, was appointed Friday night by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Public Service Commission. Workman replaces Ronald Brisé, who had sought a third term on the board. Scott also re-appointed Art Graham to the commission and filled the seat left open by the departure of Jimmy Patronis with Gary Clark, the Department of Environment Protection‘s deputy secretary of land and recreation.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis “is urging Floridians to prepare now for possible Florida impact” from Hurricane Irma, he said in a press release. “Residents should take steps immediately to ensure their family is prepared to possibly weather this major category 5 storm,” the release said.